Hunger Free Oklahoma

Looking for ways to make a difference for kids in your community? Join the Oklahoma Childhood Food Security Coalition and Hunger Free Oklahoma at one of the 2025 Oklahoma Summer Meals Regional Convenings this January and February. These events are your chance to learn about the Summer Meals program and how your organization, school, or site can help ensure children and teens have access to healthy meals during the summer months. You'll connect with others in your region, explore outreach strategies, and get practical tips for running successful summer meal sites. Dates and Locations: Woodward: Thursday, January 23 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. McAlester: Thursday, February 13 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ponca City: Thursday, February 27 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sessions will cover community outreach, policy updates, rural solutions, and more. Whether you’re new to Summer Meals or a seasoned sponsor, this is your chance to share ideas and build partnerships. Let’s work together to improve food security for Oklahoma’s kids! Register for the January 23 session in Woodward today - spots are limited: https://hfok.org/3DRBYUn

More than 900,000 Oklahomans used SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in 2023 to help buy food. That’s almost one in four people in our state relying on this program to get by. Many families face hard choices, like paying for food or covering other bills, and SNAP helps them make ends meet. We need to focus on solutions that reduce hunger and help families thrive. Learn more about hunger in Oklahoma here: https://hfok.org/4gyetye

Happy wishes for 2025 from the Hunger Free Oklahoma team! #HappyNewYear #EndHungerInOK

Oklahoma is one of only 7 states in the country with a food insecurity rate higher than 13.5%. This means far too many families face empty pantries, skipped meals, and difficult choices—like paying for groceries or covering rent. Barriers like low wages, lack of access to grocery stores, and rising food prices make it even harder for people to get the nutrition they need to stay healthy and thrive. Tackling food insecurity is essential to building stronger, healthier communities. Learn more: https://hfok.org/40i6iAE

Did you know that more than 1 in 4 kids in Oklahoma—223,890 children—don’t have enough to eat? That’s nearly a quarter of all children in our state struggling with hunger, missing the meals they need to grow and thrive. The impact of this food insecurity is significant. Food-insecure children are more likely to experience: ▪️Lower reading and math scores ▪️More behavioral and social problems ▪️Lower high school graduation rates Learn more about hunger in Oklahoma here: https://hfok.org/4fCJGio

Thank you Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust! Your support helps Oklahomans purchase more fruits & veggies through the Double Up Oklahoma program. #ThankfulThursday #EndHungerInOK

UPDATE 12/21: The federal government remains open but with a CR that did not include the protection we hoped for. Much work remains for advocates for food insecure Oklahomans. Join us by supporting this work: https://lnkd.in/dPP4BGaQ UPDATE 12/20, 4:52p: The new version of the CR is posted. It still does not restore the bipartisan agreement to extend common sense protection for SNAP participants who experience cyber theft. Statement from J. Chris Bernard, CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma: "We are deeply disappointed and frankly baffled by Congress's most recent version of the Continuing Resolution which no longer allows SNAP recipients who had their benefits stolen to be made whole. It's unconscionable that SNAP recipients are being denied the same protections afforded to other Americans when they experience cyber theft. This decision effectively punishes low-income families for being victims of crime, potentially leaving them without the means to put food on the table. The removal of this crucial safeguard goes against the very purpose of SNAP, which is to ensure that no American goes hungry. It is no doubt a surprise to most Americans that replacement of stolen SNAP benefits is not a permanent law in our country. Replacement of stolen benefits has been the common-sense solution and a lifeline to victimized families over the last two years. Congress should turn this common-sense solution into permanent law. Until it can be made permanent, we urge Congress to extend stolen benefit replacements in any proposed version of the Continuing Resolution.”

Help us welcome Cherise Montgomery to the HFO team! Cherise will be working on the Summer EBT team as Senior Program Specialist. We're so glad you're here, Cherise! #EndHungerInOK

Thank you Inasmuch Foundation! Your grant helps maximize the impact of federal nutrition programs and will one day eradicate food insecurity statewide. #ThankfulThursday #EndHungerInOK

We are #hiring! Apply today to be a part of an amazing team with a crucial mission. The following position is available for applications now: Senior Operations Specialist, Double Up Oklahoma Click here to apply today: [https://lnkd.in/eqzDqZJd ](https://lnkd.in/eqzDqZJd "https://accionvegana.org/accio/0ITbvNmLulGZltmbpxmL3d3d6MHc0/linkBuilder_wc95neJZCNFKeO6Nx2xCS")